CN111201727A

CN111201727A - Method and system for hydrocarbon operations using a hybrid communication network

Info

Publication number: CN111201727A
Application number: CN201880066116.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·M·迪斯科; 伊晓华; S·W·克劳森
Original assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
Current assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
Priority date: 2017-10-13
Filing date: 2018-09-24
Publication date: 2020-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-24
Also published as: AR113352A1; US20190112915A1; CA3078824C; WO2019074654A3; AU2018347876B2; AU2018347876A1; CN111201727B; MX2020003296A; US10724363B2; WO2019074654A2; CA3078824A1

Abstract

A method and system for using different types of communication networks along one or more tubular members is described. The method includes constructing a communication network along one or more tubular members that can access the subterranean region and use the communication network in hydrocarbon operations such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Description

Method and system for hydrocarbon operations using a hybrid communication network

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No.62/572,211 entitled "Method and System for performing Operations with Mixed Communication Networks" filed on 13/10.2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present application relates to the U.S. provisional application Serial No.62/428,367 entitled "Dual Transmission communications Node For Downlink Acoustic Wireless Networks and Method applying Same" filed on 30.11.2016, U.S. patent application No.15/666,292 entitled "Dual Transmission communications Node For Downlink Acoustic Wireless Networks and Method applying Same" filed on 1.8.2017, U.S. patent application No.15/666,292 entitled "Dual Transmission communications Node For Downlink Acoustic Networks and Method applying Same", U.S. provisional application Serial No.62/381,330 entitled "Communication Networks, Relay Nodes For Communication Networks, and Methods Transmitting Data amplification of Relay Nodes" filed on 30.8.2016, U.S. provisional application Serial No. 3632 entitled "Communication Networks, U.S. patent application Serial No. 2018 publication Networks, and Method Transmitting Data amplification of Relay Nodes" filed on 30.8.7, U.S. provisional application Serial No. 2016, U.S. application No.15/665,931 entitled "filed on 2.S. provisional application Serial No. 2 For Transmission Networks, and Method applying Same" filed on 2016, U.S. patent application No.15/666,299 entitled "Hybrid Down hole acrylic Wireless Network" filed on 8/1 in 2017, U.S. provisional application series No.62/428,385 entitled "Methods of acoustics Communicating And Using The Methods" filed on 11/30 in 2016, U.S. provisional application series No.62/433,491 entitled "Methods of acoustics Communicating And Wells Using The Methods" filed on 13/12 in 2016, U.S. provisional application series No.62/433,491 entitled "Methods of acoustics Communicating And Using The Methods of The organisms" filed on 8/1 in 2017, U.S. patent application No.15/666,324 entitled "Methods of acoustics Communicating And Using The Methods of The organisms" filed on 1/8 in 2017, U.S. patent application series No. 2016 filed on "Methods of acoustics Communicating And Using The Methods" filed on 30/11 in 2016, U.S. provisional application series No. 20156 filed on "Methods of acoustics Communicating And meeting networks" filed on 2016, "U.S. provisional application series No. 3629 in 2016, U.S. 7, U.S. patent application No.15/666,334 entitled "Acoustic Housing for Tubulars" filed on 8/1 of 2017 and U.S. patent application No.15/689,182 entitled "Acoustic Housing for Tubulars" filed on 29 of 8/8 of 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This application is related to the following U.S. provisional applications having common inventors and assignee and filed on the same day: U.S. provisional application No.62/572,146(2017EM250) filed on 13.10.2017 And entitled "Method And System For managing Operations Using Communications", U.S. provisional application No.62/572,142(2017EM317) filed on 13.10.2017 And entitled "Method And System For managing Communications Using Communications", U.S. provisional application No.62/572,147(2017EM251) filed on 13.10.2017 And entitled "Method And System For managing Operations With Communications", U.S. provisional application No.62/572,201(2017EM 251) filed on 13.10.2017 And entitled "Method And System For managing Communications With Communications", U.S. provisional application No.62/572,201 (Sa 7EM252) filed on 13.10.2017 And entitled "Method And System For managing Communications operating systems adapting A driling", U.S. provisional application No. 36326 (2017EM252) filed on 2017 And No. 12 For managing Communications by 20113), U.S. provisional application No. 12 (environmental application No. 12 & 12) filed on 2017 And System For managing Communications (2017EM325) And U.S. provisional application No.62/572,152, entitled "Method And System For Forming Wireless Communications Along will String", filed on 13.10.2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of hydrocarbon (hydro) exploration, hydrocarbon development, and hydrocarbon production, and more particularly to communicating along one or more tubular members. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for acoustic, electrical, and/or optical communication between communication nodes disposed along one or more tubular members, such as along a casing or tubing (tubing) within a wellbore (wellbore), along a subsea conduit (conduit), and/or along a pipeline (pipeline), to obtain wellbore measurements and enhance operations, which may include hydrocarbon operations, such as hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production.

Background

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing a framework that facilitates a better understanding of particular aspects of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.

The exchange of information may be used for management operations. By way of example, several real-time data systems or methods have been proposed in hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, and/or hydrocarbon production operations. To exchange information, the devices may communicate using a physical connection or a wireless connection. As a first example, a physical or hard-wired connection, such as a cable, electrical conductor, or optical cable, is secured to a tubular member, which may be used to assess subterranean conditions. The cable may be secured to an inner portion of the tubular member (such as a conduit) or an outer portion of the tubular member. The cable provides a hard-wired connection to provide real-time data transmission. Additionally, the cable may be used to provide high data transmission rates and to deliver power directly to downhole sensors. However, the use of physical cables can be difficult because the cables must be unwound and attached to the portion of the tubular member disposed within the wellbore. Accordingly, a tubular member installed into a well may not rotate due to an attached cable and thus may break off due to such installation. This limitation can be problematic for installation into horizontal wells, which typically involve rotating tubular members. Furthermore, a wireline must be attached and a passage must be provided to pass the wireline through the wellbore, wellhead, and other equipment (e.g., openings for the wireline). These channels of the cable provide potential locations for fluid leaks, which can be even more problematic for configurations involving high pressure fluids. Additionally, leakage of downhole fluids may increase the risk of failure of the cement seal.

In contrast to physical connection configurations, various wireless technologies may be used to communicate and report sensing measurements or the status of various subterranean tools or structures downhole. Such techniques are known as wireless telemetry. The use of radio transmission may also be impractical or unavailable in certain environments or during certain operations. Acoustic telemetry utilizes an acoustic wireless network to wirelessly transmit acoustic signals, such as vibrations, via a tone transmission medium. In general, a given tone transmission medium may only allow communication within a particular frequency range; and in some systems this frequency range may be relatively small. Such systems may be referred to herein as spectrum-limited systems. An example of a spectrally limited system is a well, such as a hydrocarbon well, that includes a plurality of communication nodes spaced along the length of the well.

In some cases, it may be desirable to transmit data in the form of acoustic signals in such spectrally limited environments. However, conventional data transfer mechanisms are often not efficiently utilized. For example, the method of acoustic communication may utilize an acoustic wireless network that includes various communication nodes spaced apart along the length of the tone transmission medium. These communication nodes may exchange signals with each other to manage the exchange of data within the wellbore, and with a computer system for managing hydrocarbon operations.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the industry for methods and systems that are more efficient and that can mitigate the problems associated with noisy and inefficient communications. Furthermore, there remains a need for an efficient solution to perform acoustic communication along tubular members. The present technology provides methods and systems that overcome one or more of the deficiencies discussed above.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, a method for communicating data between a plurality of communication nodes that may be arranged along a wave propagation channel, a tone transmission medium, an acoustic channel, a communication medium, and/or along one or more tubular members is described. The method comprises the following steps: providing a communication network comprising a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; arranging a first plurality of communication nodes along one or more tubular members to form a first type of communication network; arranging a second plurality of communication nodes along the one or more tubular members to form a second type of communication network; obtaining measurements along within one or more tubular members; transmitting the obtained measurement results to the control unit via signals through the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network; and performing an operation, which may include a hydrocarbon operation, with the obtained measurements.

In another embodiment, a communication system for communicating data along one or more tubular members is described. The system may include: a first plurality of communication nodes arranged along one or more tubular members to form a first type of communication network; a second plurality of communication nodes arranged along the one or more tubular members to form a second type of communication network, wherein the second type of communication network operates in a different frequency range than the first type of communication network; and a control unit configured to exchange data with the communication network.

Drawings

Advantages of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a well configured to utilize a method according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A and 2B are exemplary views of the communication node of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exemplary flow diagram in accordance with embodiments of the present technique.

Fig. 4 is an exemplary diagram of an acoustic communication system within a well.

FIG. 5 is another exemplary diagram of an acoustic communication system within a well.

FIG. 6 is yet another exemplary diagram of an acoustic communication system within a well.

FIG. 7 is yet another exemplary diagram of an acoustic communication system within a well.

Fig. 8A and 8B are exemplary diagrams of buffer configurations for use in a communication node.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description section, specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described in conjunction with preferred embodiments. However, to the extent that the following description is specific to a particular embodiment or a particular use of the present disclosure, this is intended to be for exemplary purposes only and merely provides a description of the exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described below, but includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents falling within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Various terms used herein are defined below. For terms used in the claims that are not defined below, those skilled in the relevant art should be given the broadest definition given to that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent.

The articles "the," "a," and "an" are not necessarily limited to one but are inclusive and open-ended so as to optionally include multiple such elements.

For convenience, directional terms such as "above," "below," "upper," "lower," and the like are used with reference to the drawings. In general, "above," "upper," "upward," and similar terms refer to a direction toward the earth's surface along the wellbore, and "below," "lower," "downward," and similar terms refer to a direction away from the earth's surface along the wellbore. Continuing with the example of relative orientation in the wellbore, "upper" and "lower" may also refer to relative positions along the longitudinal dimension of the wellbore rather than relative to the surface, such as when describing vertical and horizontal wells.

As used herein, the term "and/or" placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of: (1) a first entity, (2) a second entity, and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple elements listed with "and/or" should be interpreted in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so combined. In addition to elements specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, other elements, whether related or unrelated to those specifically identified, may optionally be present. Thus, as a non-limiting example, when used in conjunction with open language such as "including," references to "a and/or B" may refer in one embodiment to only a (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than a); in yet another embodiment, refer to both a and B (optionally including other elements). As used herein in the specification and claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and/or" as defined above. For example, when items in a list are separated, "or" and/or "should be interpreted as inclusive, i.e., including at least one of the plurality of elements or list of elements, but also including more than one of the plurality of elements or list of elements, and (optionally) other unlisted items. Only terms explicitly indicating the contrary (such as "only one" or "exactly one," or, when used in the claims, "consisting of") are to be intended as including exactly one of the plurality or list of elements. In general, as used herein, the term "or" should only be construed to indicate an exclusive substitute (i.e., "one or the other but not both") when preceded by an exclusive term (such as "either," "one of …," "only one of …," or "exactly one of …").

As used herein, the term "about" refers to the degree of deviation based on typical experimental error for the particular characteristic identified. The limit (latitude) to which the term "about" is provided will depend on the particular context and the particular characteristics and can be readily discerned by one skilled in the art. The term "about" is not intended to extend or limit the extent to which equivalents of the specified values may otherwise be provided. Moreover, unless otherwise indicated, the term "about" shall expressly include "exactly," consistent with the discussion below regarding ranges and numerical data.

As used herein, the term "any" means any number of one, some, or optionally all.

As used herein, the term "at least one" referring to a list of one or more elements should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each of the elements specifically listed in the list of elements, and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for the optional presence of elements in addition to the specifically identified elements within the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of a and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of a or B," or, equivalently "at least one of a and/or B") may refer in one embodiment to at least one, optionally including more than one, a, absent B (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment refers to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, no a (and optionally including elements other than a); in yet another embodiment refers to at least one, optionally including more than one, a and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements). The phrases "at least one," "one or more," and/or "are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, the expression "at least one of A, B and C", "at least one of A, B or C", "one or more of A, B and C", "one or more of A, B or C", "A, B and/or C" means a alone, B alone, C, A alone and B together, a and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

As used herein, the term "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless explicitly indicated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" describes "based only on," based at least on, "and" based at least in part on.

As used herein, the term "catheter" refers to a tubular member that forms a physical channel through which something is carried. The conduits may include one or more of pipes, manifolds, tubing, etc., or liquids contained in the tubular members. Alternatively, a conduit refers to an acoustic passage of liquid, which may be present, for example, between a formation and a tubular.

As used herein, the term "couple" refers to an interaction between elements and is not intended to limit the interaction to a direct interaction between the elements, and may also include an indirect interaction between the described elements. Coupling may include other terms such as "connected," "engaged," "attached," or any other suitable term.

As used herein, the term "determining" encompasses a wide variety of actions and, thus, "determining" can include calculating, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), determining and the like. Also, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and the like. Also, "determining" may include resolving, selecting, establishing, and the like.

As used herein, the terms "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "one aspect," "some aspects," "some implementations," "one implementation," "implementation," or similar construct means that a particular component, feature, structure, method, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment, aspect, or implementation is included in at least one embodiment and/or implementation of claimed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" (or "aspects" or "implementations") in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment and/or implementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, methods, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or implementations.

As used herein, the term "exemplary" is used exclusively herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

As used herein, the term "formation" refers to any definable subsurface region. The formation may include one or more hydrocarbon containing layers, one or more non-hydrocarbon containing layers, an overburden and/or an overburden of any geological formation.

As used herein, the term "hydrocarbon" is generally defined as a molecule formed primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms, such as oil and natural gas. The hydrocarbon may also include other elements or compounds such as, but not limited to, halogens, metallic elements, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, hydrogen sulfide (H)₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO)₂). Hydrocarbons may be produced from hydrocarbon reservoirs through wells penetrating a hydrocarbon containing formation. Hydrocarbons derived from hydrocarbon reservoirs may include, but are not limited to, petroleum, oil shale, bitumen, pyrobitumen, asphaltenes, tar, oil, natural gas, or combinations thereof. Hydrocarbons may be located within or near a mineral matrix on earth called a reservoir. The matrix may include, but is not limited to, sedimentary rock, sand, silicalite, carbonates, diatomaceous earth, and other porous media.

As used herein, the term "hydrocarbon exploration" refers to any activity associated with determining the location of hydrocarbons in a subsurface region. Hydrocarbon exploration generally refers to any activity in obtaining measurements by acquiring measurement data associated with a subterranean formation and modeling associated with the data to identify potential locations for hydrocarbon aggregation. Thus, hydrocarbon exploration involves acquiring survey data, modeling the survey data to form a subsurface model, and determining possible locations of subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs. The survey data may include seismic data, gravity data, magnetic data, electromagnetic data, and the like. Hydrocarbon exploration activities may include drilling exploration wells.

As used herein, the term "hydrocarbon development" refers to any activity associated with production planning and/or acquiring hydrocarbons in a subterranean region. Hydrocarbon development generally refers to any activity performed to plan the acquisition and/or production of hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation and the associated modeling of data to identify preferred development scenarios and methods. As an example, hydrocarbon development may include modeling of a subsurface formation and production planning for a production cycle, determining and planning equipment to be used to produce hydrocarbons from the subsurface formation, techniques to be utilized, and so forth.

As used herein, the term "hydrocarbon fluid" refers to a hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons, either gaseous or liquid. For example, hydrocarbon fluids may include hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons that are gases or liquids at formation conditions, processing conditions, or at ambient conditions (20 ° celsius (C) and 1 atmosphere (atm) pressure). Hydrocarbon fluids may include, for example, oil, natural gas, gas condensates, coal bed methane, shale oil, shale gas, and other hydrocarbons in gaseous or liquid form.

As used herein, "hydrocarbon operation" refers to any activity associated with hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon development, collection of wellbore data, and/or hydrocarbon production. It may also include midstream pipelines and storage tanks, or downstream refinery and distribution services (distribution operations).

As used herein, the term "hydrocarbon production" refers to any activity associated with the production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean location, such as a well or other opening. Hydrocarbon production generally refers to any activity performed to form a wellbore and any activity in or on a well after completion of the well. Thus, hydrocarbon production or recovery includes not only the production of primary hydrocarbons, but also secondary and tertiary production techniques such as injecting gas or liquid to increase driving pressure, moving hydrocarbons or treating by, for example, chemicals, hydraulically fracturing a wellbore to facilitate flow rate increase, well servicing, well logging, and other well and wellbore treatments.

As used herein, "mode" refers to a functional state associated with a particular setting, a particular configuration, or a plurality of settings and/or configurations. For example, the mode may involve decoding the incoming signal using a low frequency effective clock speed. As another example, the mode may involve decoding the incoming signal using a high frequency effective clock speed. As yet another example, the mode may involve listening for signals and may additionally involve using a particular form of detection, such as windowing, sliding window, data smoothing, statistical averaging, trend detection, multi-plot, and so forth.

As used herein, "monitored portion" refers to a location along the tubular member that includes a sensor and/or is a region of interest.

As used herein, "unmonitored portion" refers to a location along the tubular member that does not include a sensor and/or is not a region of interest.

As used herein, the terms "operably connected" and/or "operably coupled" mean directly or indirectly connected to transmit or transfer information, force, energy, or substance.

As used herein, the terms "optimal," "optimize," "optimality" (as well as derivatives of those terms and other forms and language-dependent words and phrases) are not meant to be limiting in the sense that the present invention is required to find the best solution or make the best decision. While a mathematically optimal solution may actually reach the best of all mathematically available possibilities, real world embodiments of optimization routines, methods, models and processes may strive towards such goals without actually achieving perfection. Thus, those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that these terms are more general in the context of the scope of the present invention. These terms may describe one or more of the following: 1) addressing a solution that may be the best available solution, a preferred solution, or a solution that provides specific benefits within a set of constraints; 2) continuously improving; 3) refining; 4) searching for a high point or maximum value of the target; 5) processing to reduce penalty functions; 6) in maximizing, minimizing, or otherwise controlling one or more other factors, etc., one or more factors are sought to be maximized in terms of competing and/or cooperative interests.

As used herein, the term "potting" refers to encapsulating an electrical component with an epoxy, elastomer, silicone or asphalt or similar compound to exclude moisture or vapor. The potting component may or may not be hermetically sealed.

As used herein, the term "range" such as concentrations, dimensions, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a range of about 1 to about 200 should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited limits of 1 and about 200, but also include various dimensions such as 2, 3,4, etc., and sub-ranges such as 10 to 50, 20 to 100, etc. Similarly, it should be understood that when numerical ranges are provided, such ranges are to be construed as providing literal support for claim limitations that only recite the lower value of the range as well as claim limitations that only recite the upper value of the range. For example, a disclosed numerical range of 10 to 100 provides literal support for a claim reciting "greater than 10" (without an upper limit) and a claim reciting "less than 100" (without a lower limit).

As used herein, the term "sealing material" refers to any material that can seal the lid of the housing to the body of the housing sufficient to withstand one or more downhole conditions (including, but not limited to, for example, temperature, humidity, soil composition, corrosive elements, pH, and pressure).

As used herein, the term "sensor" includes any electrical sensing device or gauge. The sensors may be capable of monitoring or detecting pressure, temperature, fluid flow, vibration, resistivity, capacitance, strain, sound, porosity, fracture characteristics, or other formation data. Alternatively, the sensor may be a position sensor.

As used herein, the term "flow" refers to fluids (e.g., solids, liquids, and/or gases) that are directed through various regions, such as equipment and/or formations. The equipment may include conduits, containers, manifolds, cells, or other suitable devices.

As used herein, the term "subterranean" refers to geological layers occurring below the surface of the earth.

As used herein, the term "tubular member", "tubular portion" or "tubular body" refers to any pipe, such as a joint of casing, a portion of liner, a drill string, a production tubing, an injection tubing, a small joint, a buried pipe, an underwater pipe or an above ground pipe. Solid lines therein, as well as any suitable number of such structures and/or features, may be omitted from a given embodiment without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

As used herein, the term "wellbore" or "downhole" refers to a hole formed in the subsurface by drilling the hole in the subsurface or inserting a conduit into the subsurface. The wellbore may have a substantially circular cross-section or other cross-sectional shape. As used herein, the term "well" may be used interchangeably with the term "wellbore" when referring to an opening in a formation.

As used herein, the term "well data" may include seismic data, electromagnetic data, resistivity data, gravity data, logging data, core sample data, and combinations thereof. In addition, well data may also include temperature, pressure, strain, and other similar characteristics. Well data may be obtained from memory or from equipment in the wellbore. The well data can also include data associated with equipment installed within the wellbore and a configuration of wellbore equipment. For example, the well data may include the composition of the tubular member, the thickness of the tubular member, the length of the tubular member, the composition of fluids within the wellbore, formation characteristics, cementing within the wellbore, and/or other suitable properties associated with the wellbore.

As used herein, a "region," "area," "container," or "compartment" is a defined space, area, or volume contained in a frame or model that may be bounded by one or more objects or polygons containing an area or volume of interest. The volume may include similar characteristics.

The information exchange may be used to manage the operation of different technologies. As an example, the communication network may comprise communication nodes arranged along one or more tubular members. The communication nodes may be distributed along a casing or tubing within the wellbore, along a subsea conduit, and/or along the pipeline to enhance associated operations. For exchanging information, the communication network may comprise physically connected communication nodes, wirelessly connected communication nodes or a combination of physically connected and wirelessly connected communication nodes.

By way of example, the communication network may be used for data exchange of operational data that may be used for real-time or parallel operations, such as operations involving hydrocarbon exploration operations, hydrocarbon development operations, and/or hydrocarbon production operations, for example. In hydrocarbon operations, the system or method may involve acoustic communication via a communication network (e.g., an acoustic downhole wireless network) that may include various communication nodes spaced along the length of a tonal transmission medium (e.g., a conduit). These communication nodes may exchange signals with each other to manage data exchange within the wellbore, and with a computer system for managing hydrocarbon operations. As an example, the communication nodes may exchange packets via one or more frequencies of acoustic tones transmitted and/or received over the tone transmission medium.

In some configurations, the communication node may include a housing that isolates various components from the wellbore environment. In particular, the communication node may include one or more encoding components that may be configured to generate and/or induce one or more acoustic tones within a tone transmission medium (such as a tubular member or a liquid inside a tubular member). Alternatively, the conduit refers to an acoustic passage of liquid that may, for example, be present between the formation and the tubular member. Additionally, the communication node may include one or more decoding components that may be configured to receive and/or decode acoustic tones from the tone transmission medium. The decoding means may comprise a filter for modifying the received signal, which may comprise, for example, a high pass filter. The communication node may comprise one or more power supplies configured to supply energy to other components, such as a battery. The communication node may include one or more sensors that may be configured to obtain measurement data associated with the downhole environment and/or the formation. The communication nodes may include relatively small transducers to reduce the size of the communication nodes so that they may be arranged or secured in locations with limited clearance, such as between successive layers of a downhole tubular member. Smaller transducers have a higher acoustic resonance frequency than larger transducers, and therefore transmit acoustic signals near their respective resonance frequency bands using less energy than larger transducers transmit acoustic signals near their respective resonance frequency bands. As an example, since the natural resonant frequency of a small-sized transducer is high, the transducer can emit a high-frequency signal that consumes less power, while the transducer can receive the same high-frequency acoustic signal. The benefit of using small transmit and receive transducers is that the small factor transducers enable a compact communication node.

Due to the problems encountered in the wellbore environment, downhole communication should be robust, relatively low cost, and can be configured to provide sensing information and the number of sensing points from the physical sampling. To address these issues, low frequency acoustic networks may be utilized, but tend to be large, expensive, and/or provide limited data rates. The size of the low frequency communication nodes (e.g., acoustic telemetry devices utilizing lower frequencies) cannot be finely sampled (e.g., near each fracture cluster in a hydraulic fracturing stage). To provide measurement data, a high frequency network may be utilized and may include high frequency communication nodes, such as ultrasound sensing and telemetry communication nodes. The high frequency communication nodes provide for a smaller equipment dimension and lower expense for positioning the various communication nodes at locations along the wellbore (e.g., points along a multi-zone completion). However, due to the limited range of such communication nodes using low frequencies, a high frequency communication node may involve a larger number of communication nodes than a low frequency acoustic network. Such a configuration of the communication nodes can be expensive for vertical sections of the wellbore. By way of example, the vertical portion may comprise a distance of approximately 10,000 feet between the surface and equipment within the wellbore. For higher frequency wireless networks, one communication node must be installed approximately every 40 feet, which would involve using 250 devices for a vertical portion of 10,000 feet. As another example, a communication node may be installed approximately every 80 feet, which would involve using 125 communication nodes for a vertical portion of 10,000 feet.

The present techniques include configurations for downhole communication networks that include a combination of two or more types of networks (e.g., a low frequency network of one or more low frequency communication nodes, a high frequency network of one or more high frequency communication nodes, and/or wired communication nodes) that may provide enhancements to hydrocarbon operations. As an example, a combination of different types of wireless networks may include using a low frequency communication node for locations that do not involve sensing (e.g., in an uncompleted vertical portion of a wellbore). The low frequency network may involve a low frequency, remote telemetry system that may be used for optimal performance with low system complexity (e.g., over one thousand feet downhole). The high frequency network may include high frequency communication nodes that may be used to relate to a sensed location (e.g., proximate a well completion or area of interest). The high frequency communication node may generate and receive higher frequency propagating waves or vibrations than the low frequency propagating waves used by the low frequency communication node. The wired network may include wired communication nodes that may be used to relate to a sensed location (e.g., proximate a well completion or area of interest) and may generate and receive propagating waves or vibrations. Thus, the communication network may involve optimizing or adjusting communication speed, reducing network cost, enhancing network reliability, reducing interference with operation and production, and/or providing a preferred sensing density.

The present technology may involve combining two or more types of communication networks to enhance operations, which may include hydrocarbon operations. Two or more downhole types of communication networks may be used to match the complexity of a particular configuration, and may be used to optimize cost, speed, and performance for a particular application in each zone along a tubular member (e.g., within a wellbore). Two or more types of communication networks, such as wireless networks, may include a low frequency network, a high frequency network, and/or a radio network. Thus, different communication nodes may be used to form different networks. The communication nodes may include one or more low frequency communication nodes, one or more high frequency communication nodes; one or more dual-network communication nodes or interface communication nodes (e.g., communication nodes configured to communicate with high-frequency and low-frequency signals); and/or one or more communication nodes configured to communicate with low and/or high frequency Radio Frequency (RF). As an example, ultrasound-based acoustic telemetry communication nodes (which may include telemetry ranging from 10 feet to 100 feet) may be configured to provide a higher density of communication nodes in a particular zone (e.g., a multi-zone completion horizontal section), while low frequency acoustic telemetry communication nodes may span other zones (e.g., a vertical section above the horizontal section) with only a few low frequency communication nodes (e.g., a 1000 foot range). A higher density of communication nodes may involve several meters or 10 feet to 40 feet and one sensing point per 1000 feet to 3,000 feet.

As an example, a configuration may comprise a combination of two or more types of wireless networks, which may comprise different communication nodes. The communication nodes may comprise low frequency communication nodes; a high frequency communication node; a communication node configured to communicate with high frequency and low frequency signals and a communication node configured to communicate with low frequency and/or high frequency Radio Frequency (RF). The low frequency communication node may be configured to transmit and receive signals less than or equal to (≦)200kHz, ≦ 100kHz, ≦ 50kHz, or ≦ 20 kHz. In particular, the low frequency communication node may be configured to switch in a range between 100Hz and 20 kHz; in the range between 1kHz and 20 kHz; and a signal in the range between 5kHz and 20 kHz. Other configurations may include a low frequency communication node, which may be configured to switch in a range between 100Hz and 200 kHz; in the range between 100Hz and 100 kHz; in the range between 1kHz and 200 kHz; in the range between 1kHz and 100 kHz; signals in the range between 5kHz and 100kHz and in the range between 5kHz and 200 kHz. The communication node may further comprise a high frequency communication node configured to transmit and receive signals greater than (>)20kHz, >50kHz, >100kHz, or >200 kHz. Furthermore, the high frequency communication node may be configured to exchange signals in a range between greater than 20kHz and 1MHz, in a range between greater than 20kHz and 750kHz, in a range between greater than 20kHz and 500 kHz. Other configurations may include a high frequency communication node, which may be configured to switch in a range between greater than 100kHz and 1 MHz; in the range between more than 200kHz and 1 MHz; in the range between greater than 100kHz and 750 kHz; in the range between greater than 200kHz and 750 kHz; in the range between greater than 100kHz and 500 kHz; and signals in a range between greater than 200kHz and 500 kHz.

In some configurations, the present techniques may include a communication node that includes dual network functionality (e.g., high and low frequency acoustic and/or vibration telemetry and/or acoustic telemetry in combination with radio frequency). The communication nodes may be configured to communicate with two or more types of wireless networks at the boundary (e.g., low or high frequency communication nodes in close proximity to each other). Such a communication node may be referred to as a dual-frequency communication node or an interface communication node. The interface communication node may include an additional piezoelectric transducer or other vibration generating capability, or a piezoelectric transducer and a radio frequency antenna.

In other configurations, a communication node may comprise two or more types of communication nodes that may be used for different purposes. As an example, the high frequency communication node may comprise sensing capabilities for use in the part where data should be measured and collected. In other configurations, the communication node may not include sensing capabilities, i.e. may not include sensing capabilities for cost optimization, but may focus on communication capabilities. The communication nodes may be optimized separately based on their primary function.

In a first configuration, two or more wireless communication nodes may be utilized to provide redundancy. As an example, a high frequency communication node (e.g., an acoustic telemetry communication node configured to operate at high frequencies) may be disposed in two or more portions of a wellbore. For example, a low frequency communication node (e.g., an acoustic telemetry communication node configured to operate at a low frequency) may be positioned at half or less of a reliable communication range for a respective type of wireless network. This configuration may be less complex than other network configurations. Since the communication nodes may be associated with different types of wireless networks, the configuration may include a large number of communication nodes. In addition, wireless communication nodes may also be used with wired communication nodes to provide redundancy for the system.

In a second configuration, the communication network may comprise a first type of wireless network or a first wired network for the unmonitored portion, while a second type of wireless network may be used for the monitored portion. As an example, a high frequency network of high frequency communication nodes may be disposed in portions of the wellbore to be monitored (e.g., regions of interest), while low frequency communication nodes are disposed in other portions of the wellbore that are not being monitored. The physical spacing between the high frequency communication nodes may depend on the adjacent environment and application driven sensing requirements. Communication nodes (such as interface communication nodes) in the transition between the low frequency network and the high frequency network may be specially configured to provide data streaming, buffering, and/or temporary storage capabilities. In addition, the wireless communication node may also be used with wired communication nodes that may be used in the unmonitored portion and/or the monitored portion.

In a third configuration, the downhole communication network may include a first type of wireless network for managing communications along the wellbore as the primary network through the wellbore, while a second type of wireless or wireline network may be used as a cluster within the wellbore. As an example, high frequency communication nodes may be arranged in a particular section or cluster to be monitored, while low frequency communication nodes are dispersed through various sections (such as sections to be monitored and sections not to be monitored) along the wellbore. The low frequency communication node may be configured to operate as a primary network (e.g., a data hub, gateway, and/or redundant node in a network). The data collected from the high frequency communication nodes may be transmitted to intermediate low frequency communication nodes for data relay purposes. In case the low frequency communication nodes form various low frequency networks as clusters, the low frequency networks may be integrated with the high frequency networks comprising high frequency communication nodes arranged in respective parts, which nodes may be spatially distant from each other in the cluster of high frequency networks. In addition, the low frequency communication nodes may also provide communication path redundancy for environments where communication between high frequency communication nodes is weak or cannot be established.

In a fourth configuration, the downhole wireless network may comprise a first type of wireless network for the unmonitored portion, while a second type of wireless network may be used in the monitored portion and a third type of wireless network may be used in the other unmonitored portion. As an example, it is possible to arrange the high-frequency communication nodes in a portion to be monitored (e.g., a region of interest) and the low-frequency communication nodes in other portions that are not monitored, similarly to the second configuration. Additionally, the radio frequency communication node may be for providing radio frequency wireless communication and may be configured to communicate with a low frequency communication node and/or a high frequency communication node. The radio frequency communication node may be utilized in the portion determined to be preferred for the radio frequency communication medium. Communication nodes in the transition between the radio frequency communication node and the low and/or high frequency acoustic network may be configured to provide data streaming, buffering and/or temporary storage capabilities. In addition, wireless communication nodes may also be used with wired communication nodes that may be used in the vertical sections and/or the monitored sections.

In various configurations, the use of different types of wireless networks of communication nodes may be used to tune the combined network. The adjustment of the combined wireless network may involve changing the sound and/or vibration utilized based on the structure, medium, casing conditions of the well.

The creation of a communication network may be affected in various ways. As a first aspect, a local medium such as clay or cement around the tubular member may preferably operate or better operate at high or low frequency signals. However, since the sleeve waveguide is dominant, the local medium may be secondary. As a second aspect, a combination of low frequency signals and high frequency signals may be used to provide flexibility in the range or distance spanned by the communication nodes. For example, the configuration may preferably place high frequency communication nodes near the area of interest (e.g., casing perforations, production sleeves, or other locations of hydrocarbon operations), where the size, cost, and quality of the low frequency communication nodes may prevent the use of the low frequency communication nodes. Low frequency communication nodes may be disposed in areas that are not being monitored to provide greater spacing between communication nodes.

As can be appreciated, wireless communication via high frequency signals may enable higher data rates than wireless communication via low frequency signals. Thus, unless certain steps are performed to manage the communication exchange, the interface between the high frequency and low frequency networks (e.g., high frequency communication nodes and low frequency communication nodes) may result in data loss. In addition, utilizing different types of communication nodes may limit the operation of the combined network by limiting the speed and throughput of communications based on the slowest communication node in the network. Thus, the high frequency communication nodes can operate at a very slow rate without overloading the low frequency communication nodes. Thus, interfacing between high frequency and low frequency networks, or even between wired and wireless networks, may be performed in various interface configurations.

The first interface configuration may relate to a buffer configuration. In such a configuration, each interface communication node may include sufficient memory (e.g., additional memory for processing communications) and may include a compression algorithm. The interface communication node may receive data from the high frequency communication nodes in the high frequency network at full speed while simultaneously transmitting data to the low frequency communication nodes in the low frequency network for the network at full speed. The buffer may include a queue to which data is added on one end when received and then removed on the other end when transmitted. Advantageously, the buffering arrangement provides the ability to communicate over both low and high frequency networks and to operate at full speed (and simultaneously) for each network, so that the communication channel can be more efficiently utilized. Furthermore, the buffered configuration provides significant energy savings for the high frequency communication node because the high frequency communication node may perform transmissions faster and enter a sleep mode to save power than a similar low frequency communication node may perform transmissions of similar data. Another benefit is the ability to compress or aggregate accumulated data prior to transmission by low frequency communication nodes in the low frequency network, which mitigates the slower performance of low frequency communication nodes on the low frequency network by reducing the amount of data exchanged on the low frequency network. This configuration may also be used for exchanges between a wired network and a wireless network.

Buffering configurations involve the use of sufficient memory to accommodate the longest possible transmission from a high frequency communication node in the high frequency network (or conversely, the limitation of high frequency network transmission is the size of the memory on the interfacing communication node). The ability to perform compression or aggregation of pending data buffers in an interfacing communication node may be a different configuration than other communication nodes that do not have to perform such buffering (e.g., other communication nodes may manage cached data as static). Indeed, other communication nodes take into account the responsibility of accumulating data (and increased latency), while interfacing communication nodes provide the ability to compress or aggregate data to enhance performance and/or enhance energy savings on slower networks (e.g., low frequency networks). The communication node may include a buffer memory and may be configured to perform a queue action, which may or may not use compression. Buffering and compression may occur when transmitting from high frequencies to low frequencies (e.g., from fast to slow).

The second interface configuration may relate to a pacing configuration. The pacing configuration may include one or more interface communication nodes that may be configured to transmit on a high frequency network that may transmit data once every N symbol times or intervals to account for slower data transmission by low frequency communication nodes on a low frequency network. In such a configuration, the interface communication node may be configured to maintain pace between incoming and outgoing data. The high frequency communication nodes on the high frequency network may continue to operate normally when not transmitting to the interface communication node. This scheme does not limit the size of the transmission from the high frequency network and does not involve larger or excessive buffer memory on the interfacing communication nodes. Furthermore, the high frequency communication node may enter a sleep mode between transmitted symbols, thereby saving a lot of energy. This configuration may also be used for exchanges between a wired network and a wireless network.

In some configurations, a communication node may be configured to enhance communication with aliasing. In such a configuration, the communication node may transmit signals with the high frequency transducer and receive signals with the high frequency transducer, as it may be configured to handle aliased signals. As an example, a communication node may include a processor operating at one or more effective clock speeds. The communication node may operate at a high frequency effective clock speed and/or a low frequency effective clock speed. The effective clock speed is the clock speed at which the processor operates after including an applicable clock multiplier or clock divider. Thus, the sampling frequency is equal to the effective clock speed, while the telemetry frequency is the frequency of a given telemetry tone. The communication network may use aliasing to enable signals to be received in the communication node using a low frequency effective clock speed and may transmit signals in the communication node using a high frequency effective clock speed, which is an energy saving configuration. Thus, the communication node may be configured to be more energy efficient by transmitting signals using the high speed effective clock speed and by receiving signals using the low speed effective clock speed. As an example, the ratio of the low frequency effective clock speed to the high frequency effective clock speed may be greater than 1:2 (e.g., the ratio includes ratios of 1:3, 1:5, 1:9, etc.); may be greater than 1: 4; may be greater than 1: 10; in a range between 1:2 and 1: 1000; in a range between 1:4 and 1:100 and/or in a range between 1:10 and 1: 80. In other configurations, the nyquist frequency is associated with the receiving communication node and is based on an effective clock speed effective at the receiving communication node. For example, the transmitted signal frequency may be greater than the nyquist frequency; may be greater than twice the nyquist frequency; may be greater than three times the nyquist frequency; or the transmitted signal frequency may be greater than four times the nyquist frequency. The ratio of the nyquist frequency to the transmitted signal frequency may be in a range between 1:1 and 1:1,000; may range between 1:1 and 1: 100; and/or may range between 1:1 and 1: 10. As another example, a transmitted signal at a higher frequency than the sampling frequency may be decoded to provide information for decoding the remainder of the packet.

In other configurations, the methods and systems include mechanisms for saving power in a communication node of a communication network (e.g., an acoustic wireless network). The power saving may include repeatedly and sequentially cycling a given communication node of the plurality of communication nodes through a plurality of cycles by entering a lower power state of a lower power state duration and then transitioning to a listening state of a listening state duration. The low power state duration is greater than the listening state duration. These methods also include: transmitting the transmitted acoustic tones during the cycle and via the tone transmission medium for a tone transmission duration, receiving the received acoustic tones, and interrupting the cycle by transitioning the given communication node to an active state in response to receiving. The tone transmission duration is greater than the low power state duration such that the acoustic wireless network detects the transmitted acoustic tone whenever a transmission is initiated.

In one or more configurations, the communication network may be a wireless communication network that includes different types of wireless communication types. The wireless communication network may include: a high frequency communication network comprising high frequency communication nodes; and/or a low frequency communication network comprising low frequency communication nodes. As an example, the present techniques may include configurations that utilize different types of communication nodes (e.g., low frequency communication nodes and/or high frequency communication nodes) to form a communication network that may include different types of networks. These different communication nodes may be distributed along one or more tubular members, which may be within the wellbore, along the pipeline or along the subsea tubular members, to enhance operation. The communication node may include using a low frequency communication node at a location not involved in sensing (e.g., in an incomplete vertical portion). The low frequency communication node may relate to a low frequency range which may be used for optimal performance with low system complexity. The high frequency communication node may be used in relation to a sensed location (e.g., proximate a well completion or area of interest). A high frequency communication node may involve higher frequencies than the low frequencies used by low frequency communication nodes.

As another example, the communication network may include low frequency communication nodes; a high frequency communication node; a wired communication node; a communication node configured to communicate with high and low frequency signals (e.g., acoustic signals and/or vibration signals) and a communication node configured to communicate with low and/or high frequency Radio Frequency (RF). The low frequency communication node may be configured to transmit and receive signals less than or equal to (≦)200kHz, ≦ 100kHz, ≦ 50kHz, or ≦ 20 kHz. In particular, the low frequency communication node may be configured to switch in a range between 100Hz and 20kHz, in a range between 1kHz and 20 kHz; a signal in the range between 5kHz and 20 kHz. Other configurations may include a low frequency communication node, which may be configured to switch in a range between 100Hz and 200 kHz; in the range between 100Hz and 100 kHz; in the range between 1kHz and 200 kHz; in the range between 1kHz and 100 kHz; signals in the range between 5kHz and 100kHz and in the range between 5kHz and 200 kHz. The communication node may further comprise a high frequency communication node configured to transmit and receive signals greater than (>)20kHz, >50kHz, >100kHz, or >200 kHz. Furthermore, the high frequency communication node may be configured to exchange signals in a range between greater than 20kHz and 1MHz, in a range between greater than 20kHz and 750kHz, in a range between greater than 20kHz and 500 kHz. Other configurations may include a high frequency communication node, which may be configured to switch in a range between greater than 100kHz and 1 MHz; in the range between more than 200kHz and 1 MHz; in the range between greater than 100kHz and 750 kHz; in the range between greater than 200kHz and 750 kHz; in the range between greater than 100kHz and 500 kHz; and signals in a range between greater than 200kHz and 500 kHz.

In one or more configurations, the communication network may include a physical connection or a wired network. The physical connection may include one or more cables, one or more electrical conductors, and/or one or more fiber optic cables that may be secured to the tubular member and used to evaluate the subterranean condition. The physical connection may be secured to an inner portion of the tubular member and/or an outer portion of the tubular member. The physical connection provides a hard-wired connection that can provide concurrent or real-time exchange of data packets within the wellbore. In addition, the physical connection may be used to provide power directly to the communication node and/or downhole sensors.

In other configurations, the communication network may include a combination of one or more wireless networks and one or more physically connected networks, as physical cables may be difficult to deploy along the tubular member in certain environments (e.g., wellbores). In such a configuration, the physically connected network of communication nodes may be disposed at locations not involved in sensing (e.g., in an uncompleted vertical section), while the wireless network of communication nodes may be disposed at locations in a horizontal section of the wellbore or involved in a sensed section (e.g., a monitored section of the wellbore). Another configuration may include using a wireless network of communication nodes for remote communication, while a wired physically connected network of communication nodes may be used for the monitored portions of the wellbore to handle high speed data transmission within those portions.

Thus, the present technology may enhance hydrocarbon operation through the use of wireless networks. For example, a method for communicating data between a plurality of communication nodes along one or more tubular members is described. The method comprises the following steps: providing a communication network comprising a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; arranging a first plurality of communication nodes along one or more tubular members to form a first type of communication network; arranging a second plurality of communication nodes along the one or more tubular members to form a second type of wireless network; obtaining measurements along within one or more tubular members; transmitting the obtained measurement results to the control unit via signals through the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network; and performing a hydrocarbon operation using the obtained measurement.

In one or more configurations, the method may include various enhancements. The method can comprise the following steps: wherein the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network are different types of communication networks (e.g., wireless networks); exchanging high frequency signals via the second plurality of communication nodes, and one of low frequency signals with the first plurality of communication nodes, acoustic high frequency signals or acoustic low frequency signals with the first plurality of communication nodes; exchanging vibratory high frequency signals or vibratory low frequency signals with the first plurality of communication nodes and exchanging low radio frequency signals or high radio frequency signals with the first plurality of communication nodes and any combination thereof; wherein the low frequency signal is less than or equal (≦)20kHz, in a range between 100Hz and 20kHz, or in a range between 1kHz and 20 kHz; wherein the high frequency signal is greater than (>)20 kilohertz, in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 1 megahertz, or in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 500 kilohertz; wherein the first type of communication network is a wired network and the second type of communication network is a wireless network; wherein the first plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more low frequency communication nodes and the first type of communication network operates with low frequency signals; and the second plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more high frequency communication nodes and the second type of communication network operates with high frequency signals; wherein the first and second plurality of communication nodes are arranged along the one or more tubular members to provide redundant communication along the one or more tubular members; wherein the first plurality of communication nodes are disposed in an unmonitored portion along the one or more tubular members and the second plurality of communication nodes are disposed in a monitored portion along the one or more tubular members; a third plurality of communication nodes of a third type of communication network arranged along the one or more tubular members, wherein the third plurality of communication nodes is configured to communicate with one or more of the first and second plurality of communication nodes; exchanging data packets between the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network via one or more interface communication nodes; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory and at least one compression algorithm configured to compress data communicated from a first type of communication network to a second type of communication network, wherein the first type of communication network is in a higher frequency range than the second type of communication network; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting the data packet from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes are configured to simultaneously transmit packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network and to transmit packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting data packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network, wherein the data packets are transmitted at one of a plurality of time intervals over the first type of communication network and at each interval for the second type of communication network to allow for slower data transmission over the second type of communication network; arranging one or more tubular members within a wellbore and a control unit at a surface of the wellbore; arranging a plurality of communication nodes and one or more tubular members along a subsea conduit; and/or arranging a plurality of communication nodes and one or more tubular members along the pipeline.

In another configuration, a communication system for communicating data along one or more tubular members is described. The system may include: a first plurality of communication nodes arranged along one or more tubular members to form a first type of communication network; a second plurality of communication nodes arranged along the one or more tubular members to form a second type of communication network, wherein the second type of communication network operates in a different frequency range than the first type of communication network; and a control unit configured to exchange data with the communication network.

In other configurations, the system may include various enhancements. The system may include: wherein the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network are different types of wireless networks; wherein the first plurality of communication nodes comprises one or more low frequency communication nodes, one or more communication nodes configured to communicate with the acoustic high frequency signal and the acoustic low frequency signal; one or more communication nodes configured to communicate with the vibro-high frequency signal and the vibro-low frequency signal; one of one or more communication nodes configured to communicate with low frequency radio frequency signals and/or high frequency radio frequency signals, and any combination thereof; and the second plurality of communication nodes comprises one or more high frequency communication nodes; wherein the low frequency communication node is configured to transmit and receive signals less than or equal to (≦)20 kilohertz, in a range between 100 hertz and 20 kilohertz, or in a range between 1 kilohertz and 20 kilohertz; wherein the high frequency communication node is configured to transmit and receive signals greater than (>)20 kilohertz, in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 1 megahertz, or in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 500 kilohertz; wherein the first type of communication network is a wired network and the second type of communication network is a wireless network; wherein the first plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more low frequency communication nodes and the first type of communication network operates with low frequency signals; and the second plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more high frequency communication nodes and the second type of communication network operates with high frequency signals; wherein the first and second plurality of communication nodes are arranged along the one or more tubular members to provide redundant communication along the one or more tubular members; wherein the first plurality of communication nodes are disposed in an unmonitored portion along the one or more tubular members and the second plurality of communication nodes are disposed in a monitored portion along the one or more tubular members; a third plurality of communication nodes of a third type of communication network arranged along the one or more tubular members, wherein the third plurality of communication nodes is configured to communicate with one or more of the first and second plurality of communication nodes; one or more interface communication nodes configured to exchange data packets between a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory and at least one compression algorithm configured to compress data communicated from a first type of communication network to a second type of communication network, wherein the first type of communication network operates at a higher frequency range than the second type of communication network; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting the data packet from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes are configured to simultaneously transmit data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network and to transmit data packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network; wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting data packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network, wherein the data packets are transmitted at one of a plurality of time intervals over the first type of communication network and at each interval for the second type of communication network to allow for slower data transmission over the second type of communication network; and/or wherein one or more tubular members are disposed within a wellbore, within a subsea conduit, or within a pipeline.

Advantageously, the present techniques provide various enhancements to hydrocarbon operations. The present technology may utilize two or more types of wireless networks and associated communication nodes, which provides flexibility in wireless communication downhole. Accordingly, the present techniques may be further understood with reference to fig. 1-8B, which are further described below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a well 100 configured to utilize a wireless network including two or more types of communication nodes. Well 100 includes a wellbore 102 extending from surface equipment 120 to a subterranean zone 128. The wellbore 102 may also be referred to herein as extending between a surface region 126 and a subterranean region 128 and/or within a subterranean formation 124 that extends within the subterranean region. The wellbore 102 may include a plurality of tubular sections, which may be formed of carbon steel (such as casing or liner). The subterranean formation 124 may include hydrocarbons. Well 100 may be a hydrocarbon well, a production well, and/or an injection well.

The well 100 also includes a communication network (e.g., an acoustic wireless network). The communication network may be a downhole acoustic wireless network including a plurality of communication nodes 114 and a topside communication node or control unit 132. The communication nodes 114 may be spaced apart along a tonal transmission medium 130, the tonal transmission medium 130 extending along the length of the wellbore 102. In the case of the well 100, the tone transmission medium 130 may include a downhole tubular 110 that may extend within the wellbore 102, a wellbore fluid 104 that may extend within the wellbore 102, a portion of a subterranean zone 128 adjacent the wellbore 102, a portion of a subterranean formation 124 adjacent the wellbore 102, and/or a cement 106 that may extend within the wellbore 102 and/or may extend within an annulus between the wellbore 102 and the downhole tubular 110. The downhole tubular 110 may define the fluid conduit 108.

To communicate within the wellbore 102 and with the control unit 132, a downhole communication network may be utilized, which may include a combination of two or more types of wireless and/or wired networks, which may include different communication nodes associated with the respective networks. The communication nodes 114 may include low frequency communication nodes; a high frequency communication node; a wired communication node; a communication node configured to communicate with high frequency and low frequency signals and a communication node configured to communicate with low frequency and/or high frequency Radio Frequency (RF). By way of example, each communication node 114 may include one or more encoding components 116 that may be configured to generate acoustic tones, such as acoustic tones 112, and/or induce acoustic tones within the audio transmission medium 130. The communication node 114 may also include one or more decoding components 118, which may be configured to receive the acoustic tones 112 from the tone transmission medium. Communication node 114 may function as both encoding component 116 and decoding component 118 depending on whether a given communication node is transmitting acoustic tones (e.g., functioning as an encoding component) or receiving acoustic tones (i.e., functioning as a decoding component). The communication nodes 114 may include encoding and decoding functionality or structures that are selectively utilized depending on whether a given communication node encodes or decodes acoustic tones. Additionally, the communication node 114 may include sensing components for measuring and monitoring conditions within the wellbore 102.

In the well 100, the transmission of the acoustic tones 112 may be along the length of the wellbore 102. Thus, the transmission of acoustic tones may be linear, at least substantially linear, and/or directed, such as by the tone transmission medium 130. Depending on the acoustic impedance of the material, the generated tone or signal propagates up the conduit (e.g., tubular member), down the conduit, and into surrounding layers, such as cement, casing, fluids within the casing, and the formation. Such a configuration may be contrasted with more conventional wireless communication methods, such as Wi-Fi communication, which may typically transmit corresponding wireless signals in multiple directions, or even in each direction.

The communication node 114 discussed in more detail herein is disclosed in the context of a well 100, such as a hydrocarbon well. However, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that these methods may be utilized to communicate via acoustic tones or signals in any suitable communication network (e.g., acoustic wireless networks and/or wired networks). As an example, the communication network may be used in the case of subsea tubular members extending in subsea wells and/or within a subsea environment. Under these conditions, the tonal transmission medium may comprise or be a subsea tubular and/or a subsea fluid extending within, adjacent to, and/or within a subsea environment. As another example, in the case of a surface tube, the acoustic wireless network extends within the surface area. Under these conditions, the tone transmission medium may include or may be a surface tubular and/or a fluid within the surface region, adjacent to the surface tubular, and/or extending within the surface tubular.

The plurality of frequencies used in the communication node 114 may comprise a first frequency range for a first wireless network type and/or a second frequency range for a second wireless network type. Each type of wireless network may be utilized in different portions of the wellbore to provide communication for hydrocarbon operations. The respective frequency ranges may be any suitable value. As an example, each frequency in the plurality of high frequency ranges may be at least 20 kilohertz (kHz), at least 25kHz, at least 50kHz, at least 60kHz, at least 70kHz, at least 80kHz, at least 90kHz, at least 100kHz, at least 200kHz, at least 250kHz, at least 400kHz, at least 500kHz, and/or at least 600 kHz. Additionally or alternatively, each frequency in the plurality of high frequency ranges may be at most 1,000kHz (1 megahertz (MHz)), at most 800kHz, at most 750kHz, at most 600kHz, at most 500kHz, at most 400kHz, at most 200kHz, at most 150kHz, at most 100kHz, and/or at most 80 kHz. Further, each frequency in the low frequency range may be at least 20 hertz (Hz), at least 50Hz, at least 100Hz, at least 150Hz, at least 200Hz, at least 500Hz, at least 1kHz, at least 2kHz, at least 3kHz, at least 4kHz, and/or at least 5 kHz. Additionally or alternatively, each frequency in the high frequency range may be at most 10kHz, at most 12kHz, at most 14kHz, at most 15kHz, at most 16kHz, at most 17kHz, at most 18kHz, and/or at most 20 kHz.

The communication node 114 may include various configurations, such as those described in fig. 2A and 2B. The communication node may be disposed on a conduit and/or tubular portion within the wellbore. The communication node may be associated with equipment, may be associated with a tubular member and/or may be associated with surface equipment. The communication node may also be configured to attach at the joint, on an inner or outer surface of the conduit, on a surface within the wellbore, or on equipment.

As a specific example, the communication node may be structured and arranged to attach to a surface (e.g., an inner or outer surface) of the catheter at a selected location. This type of communication node may be deployed in a wellbore environment as an intermediate communication node between the surface and any communication node associated with the equipment. The communication nodes may be arranged on each tubular member, or may be arranged on alternative tubular members. By way of example, the communication node may be spot welded to the corresponding surface, or may be secured to the tubular member with fasteners (e.g., may be selectively attached to or detached from the tubular member). The fasteners may include the use of a clamp (not shown) and epoxy or other suitable acoustic coupling agent may be used for bonding (e.g., mechanical or chemical bonding). By attaching to the outer surface of the tubular member, the communication node may not interfere with the flow of fluid within the inner bore of the tubular portion. The device may also or alternatively operate at high frequencies.

Fig. 2A is a diagram 200 of an exemplary communication node. The communication node 200 may include a housing 202 and a processor or Central Processing Unit (CPU)204, a memory 206, one or more encoding components 208, one or more decoding components 210, a power supply component 212, and/or one or more sensing components 214 that communicate via a bus 216. The Central Processing Unit (CPU)204 may be any general purpose CPU, but other types of architectures for the CPU 204 may be used, as long as the CPU 204 supports the inventive operations as described herein. Moreover, the CPU 204 may include a system on a chip, a programmable system on a chip, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a single processor, multiple processors (including different types/speeds), discrete processors, field programmable gate arrays, and/or other processor-like devices. Further, the communication node may include a clock, or the CPU 204 may include and/or operate at different effective clock speeds, such as low and/or high frequencies. The CPU 204 may execute various logic instructions in accordance with the disclosed aspects and methods. For example, the CPU 204 may execute machine-level instructions for performing processing in accordance with the aspects and methods disclosed herein. The memory 206 may include Random Access Memory (RAM), such as SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, etc., Read Only Memory (ROM), such as PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, NAND flash, NOR flash, etc. Further, a power supply component 212 may be disposed in the housing 202 and may be configured to provide power to other components. The power supply component 212 may include one or more batteries.

To manage communications, the communication node 200 may utilize one or more encoding components 208, which may include one or more transducers, and one or more decoding components 210 within the housing 202. The encoding component 208 may be disposed within the enclosure 202 and may be configured to generate and/or induce acoustic tones within a tone transmission medium. One or more decoding components 210, which may include one or more transducers, may be disposed within the enclosure 202 and may be configured to receive acoustic tones from a tone transmission medium. The encoding component 208 and the decoding component 210 may include instructions stored in memory and configured to perform generation of acoustic tones or decoding of acoustic tones and compression or decompression of data packets into acoustic tones. The encoding component 208 and the decoding component 210 may utilize the same transducer in some configurations.

The one or more sensing components 214 may be configured to obtain sensing data and transmit the obtained measurement data to other communication nodes. As an example, the sensing component 214 may be configured to obtain pressure measurements, temperature measurements, fluid flow measurements, vibration measurements, resistivity measurements, capacitance measurements, strain measurements, acoustic measurements, simulation (simulation) and/or hydraulic fracture property measurements, chemical measurements, position measurements, and other suitable measurements.

In yet another exemplary configuration, fig. 2B is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a communication node 250 that may be used in a system. The view of communication node 250 is along the vertical axis. The communication node 250 includes a housing 252, and the housing 252 may be made of carbon steel or other suitable material to avoid corrosion at the coupling. The housing 252 is dimensioned to provide sufficient structural strength to protect the internal components and other electronics disposed within the internal region. By way of example, the housing 252 has an outer wall 260, and the thickness of the outer wall 260 may be about 0.2 inches (0.51 centimeters (cm)). The cavity 262 houses electronics, including by way of example and not limitation, a power source 254 (e.g., one or more batteries), a power supply line 264, a first transducer 256, a second transducer 258, and a circuit board 266. The circuit board 266 may preferably include a microprocessor or electronic module that processes acoustic signals. As a preferred arrangement, the communication node may comprise two or more processors or microprocessors. Also,

transducers

256 and 258 may be electro-acoustic transducers.

For communication between communication nodes, the first transducer 256 and the second transducer 258 may be configured to convert acoustic energy into electrical energy (or vice versa) and acoustically couple with the outer wall 260 on the side attached to the tubular member. As an example, a first electro-acoustic transducer 256 configured to receive acoustic signals and a second electro-acoustic transducer 258 configured to transmit acoustic signals may be disposed in a cavity 262 of the housing 252. The first and second electro-

acoustic transducers

256 and 258 provide a mechanism for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals from node to node above or below the wellbore. In some configurations, the second electro-acoustic transducer 258 configured to act as a transmitter of the intermediate communication node 250 may also generate an acoustic telemetry signal. Also, the electrical signal is passed to the second electro-acoustic transducer 258 via the driver circuit. By way of example, a signal generated in one of the transducers (such as the second electro-acoustic transducer 258) passes through the housing 252 to the tubular member and propagates along the tubular member to the other communication nodes. Thus, the transducer that generates or receives the acoustic signal may be a magnetostrictive transducer (e.g., comprising a coil wrapped around a core) and/or a piezoceramic transducer. Regardless of the specific type of transducer, the electrically encoded data is converted into acoustic waves that are carried through the wall of the tubular member in the wellbore. Thus, the transducer may be configured to receive signals only, transmit signals only, or both receive and transmit signals.

Further, the internal components of the communication node 250 may include a protective layer 268. A protective layer 268 encapsulates the electronic circuit board 266, the cable 264, the power supply 254, and the

transducers

256 and 258. The protective layer 268 may provide additional mechanical durability and moisture barrier. The communication node 250 may also be fluidly sealed within the housing 252 to protect the internal electronics from exposure to undesired fluids and/or to maintain dielectric integrity within the voids of the housing. One form of protection for the internal electronics is the use of potting material.

To secure the communication node to the tubular member, the intermediate communication node 250 may also optionally include a shoe 270. More specifically, the intermediate communication node 250 may include a pair of shoes 270 disposed at opposite ends of the wall 260. Each shoe 270 provides a chamfer that helps prevent node 250 from hanging up on the outer tubular body or surrounding formation during run-in or pull-out as appropriate. The communication node 250 may also have an optional acoustic coupling material (not shown) between the face connecting the housing to the tubular and the tubular itself.

To enhance performance, the communication nodes may be configured to manage different types of communication networks (e.g., wireless networks and/or wired networks). For example, the communication node may be configured to operate with different types of wireless networks, such as low frequency, high frequency and/or radio frequency. Thus, the communication node may be configured to communicate with each type of wireless network and/or may be configured to transmit with one type of wireless network and receive with another type of wireless network. In some configurations, the sound waves may be transmitted in asynchronous packets of information that include multiple individual tones. In other configurations, acoustic telemetry data transmission may involve Multiple Frequency Shift Keying (MFSK). Any extraneous noise in the signal may be mitigated by using well known analog and/or digital signal processing methods. Such noise removal and signal enhancement may involve carrying the acoustic signal through a signal conditioning circuit using, for example, one or more band pass filters.

Fig. 3 is an exemplary flow diagram 300 in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. The flow diagram 300 is a method for creating, installing, and using a communication network for a wellbore. The communication network may include a wireless network, a wired network, and any combination thereof. The method may include determining and constructing a communication network that includes the use of two or more types of networks (e.g., wireless networks and/or wired networks) for use in the wellbore, as shown in blocks 302-304. The communication network may then be validated and modified as shown in blocks 306 through 310, and used for hydrocarbon operations as shown in blocks 312 through 314.

First, the method involves determining and constructing a communication network that includes the use of two or more types of networks for use in the wellbore, as shown in blocks 302 through 304. At block 302, well data for a subsurface region is obtained. The well data may include seismic data, vibration data, acoustic data, electromagnetic data, resistivity data, gravity data, logging data, core sample data, and combinations thereof. In addition, well data may also include temperature, pressure, strain, and other similar characteristics. The well data can also include data associated with equipment installed within the wellbore and a configuration of wellbore equipment. For example, the well data may include the composition of the tubular member, the thickness of the tubular member, the length of the tubular member, the composition of fluids within the wellbore, formation properties, cementing within the wellbore, and/or other suitable characteristics associated with the wellbore. Well data may be obtained from memory or from equipment in the wellbore. At block 303, a region of interest is determined to monitor the wellbore. Determining the region of interest may include determining a location for sensing measurements based on a well design or an identified subsurface region. At block 304, a communication network is created based on the well data. The communication network may be configured to manage different types of wireless networks and/or different types of wired networks. For example, the communication network may be configured to operate different types of wireless networks, such as low frequency, high frequency, and/or radio frequency. In addition to wireless networks, the communication network may include different types of wired networks. Creation of the communication network may include performing a simulation with the configuration of the communication nodes, which may include modeling the use of certain frequencies and/or certain communication node types within a particular region or section of the wellbore. The simulation may include modeling the tubular member, exchanging data packets via signals between the communication nodes, and/or other aspects. The simulation results may include calculations of fluid pressure and fluid composition over time and predictions of signal propagation time within the wellbore. Performing the simulation may also include modeling the fluid, modeling the signal transmission, and/or modeling the structural changes based on the wireless network. Additionally, the creation of the communication network may include installing and configuring the communication nodes in the communication network in the test unit. The test unit may be a system comprising one or more tubular members and associated communication nodes distributed along the tubular members within the housing of the test unit. The test cell may also contain a fluid, solid, granular material, gas, or mixture disposed about the tubular member within the housing.

The communication network may then be authenticated and modified as shown in blocks 306 through 310. At block 306, operation of the communication network is verified. Validation of the communication network may include coupling the communication node to wellbore equipment, such as tubular members, joints, and/or other subterranean equipment. The verification of the communication network may comprise testing and/or verifying the communication node in a proposed wireless network configuration, which is installed in the test unit. At block 308, it is determined whether the wireless network is within a threshold. The determination may include verifying operation of the communication node, verifying redundancy of the wireless network. If the wireless network is not within the threshold, the wireless network may be modified, as shown in block 310. The modification of the wireless network may include adding communication nodes, adjusting locations of communication nodes, adjusting communication settings, reconfiguring the network or communication settings (e.g., at least default settings) without having to change communication nodes between high and low frequencies and/or adjusting the wireless network type of communication nodes used at one or more regions of the wellbore. If the communication network is within the threshold, the communication network may be installed, as shown in block 312.

The communication network may be used for hydrocarbon operations as shown in blocks 312 to 314. At block 312, a communication network may be installed. Installation of the communication network may include securing the communication node to a wellbore or tubular member in subterranean equipment, verifying operation of the communication node once installed, and/or disposing the communication node within the wellbore. At block 314, the communication network may be used for hydrocarbon operations. The hydrocarbon operations may include hydrocarbon exploration operations, hydrocarbon development operations, and/or hydrocarbon production operations. Hydrocarbon operations may include monitoring wellbore data or along tubular members. For example, a communication network may be used to estimate well performance predictions. As another example, the communication network may be used to adjust hydrocarbon production operations, such as installing or modifying wells or completions, monitoring seals in annuli (such as cement), modifying or adjusting drilling operations, and/or installing or modifying production facilities. Furthermore, the results may be used to predict hydrocarbon accumulation in the subterranean region; providing an estimated recovery factor; adjusting the perforating operation and/or determining the fluid flow rate of the subterranean zone. A production facility may include one or more units to treat and manage the flow of production fluids (such as hydrocarbons and/or water) from the formation. Once the operation is complete, the operation may involve shutting down network telemetry operations, reconfiguring the network for different activities, and/or continuing to monitor the subsurface region once the operation is complete.

Advantageously, the method enhances the production, development and/or exploration of hydrocarbons. In particular, the method can be utilized to enhance communication within the wellbore by providing a particular configuration that optimizes communication. Further, the enhanced communication may involve less computational effort, may involve less interactive intervention, and/or may be performed in a computationally efficient manner. This may therefore provide enhanced production at lower cost and lower risk.

The method may be modified before, during, or after installation to provide configuration changes. For example, the configuration of the communication nodes may be modified prior to block 312, during installation execution in block 312, or during use of the communication network in hydrocarbon operations in block 314. The modification may include changing communication settings within one or more communication nodes, adjusting frequencies used by the communication nodes, and/or adjusting locations of the communication nodes along the tubular member. The pre-installation modification may be based on data measured in the test unit, while the during-installation modification may be based on conditions, and the during-operation modification may be based on detection of conditions or network events. The modification may be based on communications from other devices, such as hydrophones in the wellbore and/or pigs in the pipeline. These communication devices may provide a longer communication range than communications conventionally used in these environments. As a specific example, a communication node may be configured to receive communication signals from a communication device (such as a hydrophone or designated communication node) for transmission in a frequency band (e.g., a lower frequency band) without involving reconfiguration of any network devices, such as the communication node.

As shown in FIG. 3, the communication network generated in block 304 and used in performing hydrocarbon operations may involve various configurations. As an example, the communication network may involve one or more configurations further described in fig. 4-7. For example, fig. 4 is an exemplary diagram 400 of an acoustic communication system within a well. Fig. 5 is another exemplary diagram 500 of an acoustic communication system within a well that uses two or more types of communication networks, which may include wireless networks and/or wired networks. Fig. 6 is yet another exemplary diagram 600 of an acoustic communication system within a well. Fig. 7 is yet another exemplary diagram 700 of an acoustic communication system within a well. In each of these diagrams 400, 500, 600, and 700, like reference numbers may be used to denote like equipment or components within the system. The wireless network may include two or more types of wireless acoustic telemetry communication and sensing communication nodes, such as low frequency communication nodes; a high frequency communication node and a radio frequency communication node. Using a communication network with multiple types of wireless networks (e.g., high and low frequency acoustic and/or vibration telemetry, or acoustic telemetry in combination with radio frequencies) may provide flexibility in the operation of the wireless network. In addition, the communication network may also include different types of physical or wired networks. The physical network may comprise electrical cables, electrical conductors, or fiber optic cables. This may involve other piezoelectric transducers, vibration generation capabilities, piezoelectric and radio frequency antennas.

As a first configuration, fig. 4 is an exemplary diagram 400 of an acoustic communication system within a well. In particular, the communication network includes various communication nodes a associated with a first type of wireless network (e.g., a low frequency wireless network) and communication nodes B associated with a second type of wireless network (e.g., a high frequency wireless network). The well includes a wellhead 402 and packers 404 configured to manage the flow of fluids in the wellbore. Within the wellbore, a surface casing 406 is disposed and may be secured to the formation by cement (not shown), while a production tubing 408 extends into the wellbore to form a fluid passageway through the surrounding subterranean zone into an interior portion of the production tubing 408. In this configuration, communication node a is a low frequency communication node that is disposed on the outer surface of production tubing 408. The configuration may involve spacing the communication nodes a distance in a particular portion of the communication range to provide redundancy within the wellbore. Further, communication node B is a high frequency communication node (e.g., a high frequency high speed ultrasonic telemetry node) disposed on an outer surface of production tubing 408.

Additionally, in certain configurations, communication nodes a or B may involve spacing communication nodes a or B of the respective networks by a distance in a particular portion of the communication range to provide redundancy within the wellbore. The communication range may vary based on the type of wireless communication node used for each communication node. For example, adjacent communication nodes a or B may be spaced apart by a distance of one half of the communication range, one third of the communication range, or one quarter of the communication range. As another example, neighboring communication nodes a or B may each be at a distance between 30% of communication range to 80% of communication range; a distance between 40% of the communication range to 70% of the communication range; the distance between 45% of the communication range to 55% of the communication range is spaced apart.

Additionally, alternative configurations may include a combination of wired and wireless networks. For example, the communication node a may be a wired communication node forming a wired network, and the communication node B may be a wireless communication node forming a wireless network.

To reduce the number of communication nodes used, fig. 5 is an exemplary diagram 500 of an acoustic communication system within a well as a second configuration. Specifically, the downhole communication network includes various communication nodes B as high-frequency communication nodes and communication nodes a as low-frequency communication nodes. Similar to fig. 4, the well includes a wellhead 402, a packer 404, a surface casing 406, and a production tubing 408. In this configuration, communication node B and communication node a are disposed on the outer surface of production tubing 408. In such a configuration, communication node a is used to communicate through portions of the wellbore not involved in obtaining measurements, while communication node B may be used to perform sensing or data measurements. Similar to the discussion above, this configuration may involve spacing communication node B and communication node a distance apart by a particular portion of the communication range to provide redundancy within the wellbore.

Additionally, alternative configurations may include a combination of wired and wireless networks. For example, the communication node a may be a wired communication node forming a wired network, and the communication node B may be a wireless communication node forming a wireless network. Wired networks may be utilized in the vertical portion of the wellbore, but wireless networks may be utilized in the horizontal portion of the wellbore.

To further enhance the operation of the communication node, fig. 6 is an exemplary diagram 600 of an acoustic communication system within a well as a third configuration. Specifically, the communication network includes various communication nodes B as high-frequency communication nodes and a communication node a as low-frequency communication nodes. Similar to fig. 4 and 5, the well includes a wellhead 402, a packer 404, a surface casing 406, and a production tubing 408. In this configuration, communication node B and communication node a are disposed on the outer surface of production tubing 408. The correspondent node a and the correspondent node B are mixed with each other to serve as a communication hub of the correspondent node B. Similar to the discussion above, the configuration may involve spacing communication node B and communication node a distance apart by a particular portion of the communication range to provide redundancy within the wellbore.

Additionally, alternative configurations may include a combination of wired and wireless networks. For example, the communication node a may be a wireless communication node forming a wireless network, and the communication node B may be a wired communication node forming a wired network. A wired network may be utilized within a particular section or region of interest, while a wireless network may be utilized in other sections of the wellbore. Such a configuration may reduce installation problems of the wired network, but may provide greater coverage with wired communication nodes at specific locations within the wellbore.

As another enhancement to the operation of the communication node, fig. 7 is an exemplary diagram 700 of an acoustic communication system within a well as a fourth configuration. Specifically, the communication network includes various communication node bs as high-frequency communication nodes; a communication node a as a low frequency communication node; and a communication node C as a radio frequency communication node. Similar to fig. 4, 5 and 6, the well includes a wellhead 402, a packer 404, a surface casing 406 and a production tubing 408. In this configuration, communication node B, communication node a, and communication node C are disposed on an outer surface of production tubing 408. The communication node C is arranged between the communication node a and the communication node B to manage communication between different types of communication nodes or other places where the communication nodes a and B do not provide the best performance. Similar to the discussion above, this configuration may involve spacing the communication nodes A, B and C a distance of a particular portion of the communication range to provide redundancy within the wellbore.

As an alternative configuration, the communication network may comprise a combination of wired and wireless networks. For example, communication node a may be a wired communication node forming a wired network, while communication nodes B and C may be different wireless communication nodes forming respective wireless networks. A wired network may be utilized in the vertical portion and a wired network may be utilized in other portions of the wellbore. This configuration may reduce installation problems for wired networks.

Fig. 8A and 8B are exemplary diagrams of buffer configurations used in a communication node. As can be appreciated, one or more communication nodes can be configured to act as an interface between different types of communication networks in an environment (e.g., a downhole environment, a subsea environment, or a pipeline environment). The interfacing communication node may be configured to manage the boundary between different types of communication networks, such as a high frequency network and/or a low frequency network and/or a wireless and wired network.

One configuration of an interface communication node may include a buffering configuration. The buffering configuration may involve the interface communication node having sufficient memory to be able to receive data from the high frequency network at full speed, while the interface communication node may simultaneously transmit data packets over the low frequency network at full speed. As shown in fig. 8A, a suitable buffer 800 acts as a queue, adding data to the queue at one end as data is received, as indicated by arrow 818, and removing data at the other end as data is sent, as indicated by arrow 820. For example, the received data may be stored in the order of

blocks

802, 804, 806, 808, 810, 812, 814, and 816 (e.g., block 802 is the newest data packet received and block 816 is the oldest data packet received), while the transmitted data may be removed for transmission in the order of

blocks

816, 814, 812, 810, 808, 806, 804, and 802 (e.g., block 816 is the first data packet to be transmitted and block 802 is the last data packet to be transmitted). The buffer memory may be configured to perform queue behavior that may or may not use compression. Buffering and compression may occur when transmitting from high frequencies to low frequencies (e.g., from fast to slow).

The main advantages of this configuration are that the low and high frequency networks can operate at full speed (and simultaneously), thus making more efficient use of communications (e.g., channels), and saving a lot of energy for the high frequency network because it can complete the transmission quickly and enter sleep mode. Another advantage of this configuration is the ability to compress or aggregate accumulated data (e.g., data packets) prior to transmission over the low frequency network, which may mitigate the slower performance of the low frequency network by reducing the amount of data transmitted over the low frequency network. In this configuration, the configuration must have enough memory to accommodate as long a transmission as possible from the high frequency network (or conversely, the limitation of the high frequency network transmission is the size of the memory in the respective interfacing communication node). The ability to apply in-place compression or aggregation to pending data buffers is different because typical cache data is considered static from the time it is stored in the cache until the time it is retrieved from the cache. By using in-place compression or aggregation to improve performance and save energy for slower networks (e.g., low frequency networks), the responsibility for accumulating data (and increased latency) may be reduced or eliminated.

The interfacing communication node may include one or more compression algorithms. The compression algorithm may include one or more of a Lempel-Ziv (lz) compression algorithm, Lempel-Ziv-welch (lzw) compression algorithm, huffman coding (e.g., SHRI, LZX) compression algorithm, run-length coding compression algorithm, Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) compression algorithm, Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) compression algorithm, vector quantization compression algorithm, fractal compression algorithm, and/or other compression algorithms. Different compression algorithms may include utilizing energy consumption to adjust or optimize compression ratios.

Another configuration of the interfacing communication node may include a pacing configuration. Pacing configurations may include managing transmissions over different types of wireless networks, such as high frequency networks and/or low frequency networks. As an example, the interfacing communication node may involve transmitting on the high frequency network every nth symbol time or interval to account for slower data transmission by the low frequency network. As an example, the interface communication node may involve transmitting one of a plurality of time intervals from the first wireless network based on a time interval of the second wireless network being slower than the first wireless network. As shown in fig. 8B, data packets on the high frequency network are shown along arrow 852 and data packets on the low frequency network are shown along arrow 862. In this example, the interfacing communication node may involve transmitting from the high frequency network at one of five time intervals based on a single time interval of the low frequency wireless network. In a high frequency network,

data packets

854, 856, 858, and 860 include data, while other data packets between

data packets

854, 856, 858, and 860 do not include information. The low frequency network may include

data packets

864, 866, 868, and 870 associated with

data packets

854, 856, 858, and 860, respectively. This configuration provides a mechanism to maintain the pace between incoming and outgoing data packets on the respective networks. Thus, in this configuration, the high frequency network may continue to operate normally when it is not transmitting to the interfacing communication node. This scheme does not limit the size of the transmission from the high frequency network and does not require excessive buffer memory on the interfacing communication nodes. Transmissions on the high frequency network may involve high frequency communication nodes, which may involve transmitting in an operational mode and then entering a sleep mode between transmitted symbols, thereby saving a significant amount of energy.

In some configurations, the interface communication node may be further configured to manage communication exchanges between the high frequency network and the low frequency network using aliasing. The communication network may use aliasing to enable communication nodes operating at a low frequency effective clock speed to be used with communication nodes operating at a high frequency effective clock speed. Thus, the communication node may be configured to be more energy efficient by transmitting signals using the high speed effective clock speed and by receiving signals using the low speed effective clock speed.

In other configurations, the communication node may comprise a variety of different configurations. As an example, the communication node may comprise a single transducer for low frequency acoustic communication and high frequency acoustic communication. Other communication nodes may include separate low and high frequency acoustic transducers, or a combination of radio frequency transducers with low and/or high frequency vibrations, as well as software and/or control electronics for transmission, sensitivity detection, timing adjustment and sensing. Moreover, the communication node may include robust algorithms for manually switching or automatically switching network physical layer types (low frequency, high frequency, radio frequency, and other suitable types of wireless networks) based on changes in the tubular, flowing medium, formation, or downhole equipment itself that may obstruct one or more available physical communication channels (propagating wave types).

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that in a practical application of the disclosed method, it is partially executed on a computer, typically a suitably programmed digital computer or processor-based device. Moreover, some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In this application, a procedure, step, logic block, process, etc., is conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present application, discussions utilizing terms such as "processing" or "computing", "calculating", "comparing", "determining", "displaying", "copying", "producing", "storing", "adding", "applying", "performing", "maintaining", "updating", "creating", "constructing", "generating", or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Embodiments of the present technology also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus, such as a control unit or a communication node, may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer or a processor-based device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program (e.g., one or more sets of instructions) stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable medium. A computer-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable (e.g., machine-readable) media include machine (e.g., computer) readable storage media (e.g., read only memory ("ROM"), random access memory ("RAM"), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.), and machine (e.g., computer) readable transmission media (e.g., electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.)).

Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, the modules, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects of the invention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of the three. Of course, where a component of the present invention is implemented as software, the component may be implemented as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate programs, as a statically or dynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or in every and every other way known now or in the future to those of skill in the art of computer programming. Furthermore, the present techniques are in no way limited to implementation in any specific operating system or environment.

As an example, the control unit may comprise a computer system that may be used to perform any of the methods disclosed herein. A Central Processing Unit (CPU) is coupled to the system bus. The CPU may be any general purpose CPU, but other types of architectures for the CPU (or other components of the exemplary system) may be used, so long as the CPU (and other components of the system) supports the inventive operations described herein. The CPU may execute various logic instructions in accordance with the disclosed aspects and methods. For example, a CPU may execute machine-level instructions to perform processing in accordance with the aspects and methods disclosed herein.

The computer system may also include computer components such as Random Access Memory (RAM), which may be SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, or the like. The computer system may also include Read Only Memory (ROM) which may be PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, NAND flash, NOR flash, etc. The RAM and ROM hold user and system data and programs, as is known in the art. The computer system may also include an input/output (I/O) adapter, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a communications adapter, a user interface adapter, and a display adapter. In certain aspects and techniques, an I/O adapter, a user interface adapter, and/or a communications adapter may enable a user to interact with a computer system to input information.

The I/O adapter preferably connects the storage device(s), such as one or more of a hard disk drive, Compact Disk (CD) drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, etc., to the computer system. The storage device(s) may be used when the RAM is insufficient to meet the memory requirements associated with storing data for the operations of embodiments of the present technology. The data storage devices of the computer system may be used to store information and/or other data used or generated as disclosed herein. The communications adapter may couple the computer system to a network (not shown), which may include a wireless network for the wellbore and a separate network for communicating with remote locations, which may enable information to be input to and/or output from the system via a network (e.g., a wide area network, a local area network, a wireless network, any combination of the foregoing). User interface adapters couple user input devices, such as keyboards, pointing devices, etc., to the computer system. The display adapter is driven by the CPU or GPU to control the display on the display device through the display driver.

The architecture of the system may vary as desired. For example, any suitable processor-based device may be used, including but not limited to personal computers, laptop computers, computer workstations, and multiprocessor servers. Moreover, embodiments may be implemented on Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits. Indeed, depending on the embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art may use any number of suitable structures capable of performing logical operations.

As can be appreciated, the method can be implemented in machine-readable logic such that a set of instructions or code, when executed, performs instructions or operations from a memory. As an example, a computer system includes a processor; an input device and a memory. An input device is in communication with the processor and is configured to receive input data associated with the subsurface region. The memory is in communication with the processor and has a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions, when executed, is configured to perform various steps.

As an example, the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, may be configured to perform the step of enhancing the hydrocarbon operation. The set of instructions may be configured to: communicate with signals (e.g., high frequency signals and/or low frequency signals); communicating with a low frequency radio frequency signal and/or a high frequency radio frequency signal, and any combination thereof; transmitting and receiving signals less than or equal to (≦)20kHz, in a range between 100Hz and 20kHz, or in a range between 1kHz and 20 kHz; transmitting and receiving signals greater than (>)20 kilohertz, in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 1 megahertz, or in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 500 kilohertz; communicating with one or more of a first plurality of communication nodes and a second plurality of communication nodes; exchanging data packets between a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; compressing data communicated from a first type of communication network to a second type of communication network, wherein the first type of communication network operates in a higher frequency range than the second type of communication network; storing data packets received from a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting the data packet from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network; simultaneously transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network and data packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network; storing data packets received from a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and/or transmitting data packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network.

It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of specific embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes, modifications, and alternatives to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims and their equivalents. It is also contemplated that structures and features implemented in this example may be altered, rearranged, substituted, deleted, duplicated, combined, or added to each other. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein are possible. All such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data between a plurality of communication nodes along one or more tubular members, the method comprising:

providing a communication network comprising a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network;

arranging a first plurality of communication nodes along one or more tubular members to form a first type of communication network;

arranging a second plurality of communication nodes along the one or more tubular members to form a second type of communication network;

obtaining measurements along the one or more tubular members;

transmitting the obtained measurement results to the control unit via signals through the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network; and

hydrocarbon operations are performed using the obtained measurements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network are different types of wireless networks.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

exchanging high frequency signals via a second plurality of communication nodes; and

exchanging low frequency signals with a first plurality of communication nodes, acoustic high frequency signals or acoustic low frequency signals with the first plurality of communication nodes; exchanging one of a vibro high frequency signal or a vibro low frequency signal with the first plurality of communication nodes, and exchanging one of a low frequency radio frequency signal or a high frequency radio frequency signal, and any combination thereof, with the first plurality of communication nodes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the low frequency signal is less than or equal to (≦)20 kilohertz.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the low frequency signal is in a range between 100Hz and 20 kHz.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the low frequency signal is in a range between 1 kilohertz and 20 kilohertz.

7. The method of any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the high frequency signal is greater than (>)20 kilohertz.

8. The method of any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the high frequency signal is in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 1 megahertz.

9. The method of any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the high frequency signal is in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 500 kilohertz.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first type of communication network is a wired network and the second type of communication network is a wireless network.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more low frequency communication nodes and the first type of communication network operates with low frequency signals; and the second plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more high frequency communication nodes and the second type of communication network operates with high frequency signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second plurality of communication nodes are arranged along the one or more tubular members to provide redundant communication along the one or more tubular members.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a first plurality of communication nodes are arranged in an unmonitored portion along the one or more tubular members and a second plurality of communication nodes are arranged in a monitored portion along the one or more tubular members.

14. The method of any of claims 11 to 13, further comprising: a third plurality of communication nodes of a third type of communication network arranged along the one or more tubular members, wherein the third plurality of communication nodes is configured to communicate with one or more of the first and second plurality of communication nodes.

15. The method of any of claims 1 to 14, further comprising: data packets are exchanged between the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network via one or more interface communication nodes.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory and at least one compression algorithm configured to compress data communicated from a first type of communication network to a second type of communication network, wherein a frequency range of the first type of communication network is higher than a frequency range of the second type of communication network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting the data packet from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes are configured to simultaneously transmit packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network and transmit packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting the data packet from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network, wherein the data packet is transmitted at one of a plurality of time intervals over the first type of communication network and at each interval for the second type of communication network to account for slower data transmissions over the second type of communication network.

20. The method of any of claims 1-19, further comprising disposing the one or more tubular members within a wellbore and the control unit is located at a surface of the wellbore.

21. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising arranging the plurality of communication nodes and the one or more tubular members along a subsea conduit.

22. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising arranging the plurality of communication nodes and the one or more tubular members along a pipeline.

23. A communication system for communicating data along one or more tubular members, the system comprising:

a first plurality of communication nodes arranged along one or more tubular members to form a first type of communication network;

a second plurality of communication nodes arranged along the one or more tubular members to form a second type of communication network, wherein the second type of communication network operates in a different frequency range than the first type of communication network; and

a control unit configured to exchange data with the communication network.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first type of communication network and the second type of communication network are different types of wireless networks.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the first plurality of communication nodes comprises one or more low frequency communication nodes, one or more communication nodes configured to communicate with the acoustic high frequency signal and the acoustic low frequency signal; one or more communication nodes configured to communicate with the vibro-high frequency signal and the vibro-low frequency signal; one of one or more communication nodes configured to communicate with low frequency radio frequency signals and/or high frequency radio frequency signals, and any combination thereof; and the second plurality of communication nodes comprises one or more high frequency communication nodes.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the low frequency communication node is configured to transmit and receive signals less than or equal to (≦)20 kilohertz.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the low frequency communication nodes are configured to exchange signals in a range between 100 hertz and 20 kilohertz.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the low frequency communication nodes are configured to exchange signals in a range between 1 kilohertz and 20 kilohertz.

29. The system of any of claims 25 to 28, wherein the high frequency communication node is configured to transmit and receive signals greater than (>)20 kilohertz.

30. The system of any of claims 25 to 28, wherein the high frequency communication nodes are configured to exchange signals in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 1 megahertz.

31. The system of any of claims 25 to 28, wherein the high frequency communication nodes are configured to exchange signals in a range between greater than 20 kilohertz and 500 kilohertz.

32. The system of any one of claims 23 to 31, wherein the first type of communication network is a wired network and the second type of communication network is a wireless network.

33. The system of any one of claims 23 to 32, wherein the first plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more low frequency communication nodes and the first type of communication network operates with low frequency signals; and the second plurality of communication nodes comprises two or more high frequency communication nodes and the second type of communication network operates with high frequency signals.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the first and second plurality of communication nodes are arranged along the one or more tubular members to provide redundant communication along the one or more tubular members.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein a first plurality of communication nodes are disposed in an unmonitored portion along the one or more tubular members and a second plurality of communication nodes are disposed in a monitored portion along the one or more tubular members.

36. The system of any of claims 33 to 35, further comprising: a third plurality of communication nodes of a third type of communication network arranged along the one or more tubular members, wherein the third plurality of communication nodes is configured to communicate with one or more of the first and second plurality of communication nodes.

37. The system of any of claims 23 to 36, further comprising: one or more interface communication nodes configured to exchange data packets between a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory and at least one compression algorithm configured to compress data communicated from a first type of communication network to a second type of communication network, wherein the first type of communication network operates in a higher frequency range than the second type of communication network.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting the data packet from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes are configured to simultaneously transmit data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network and transmit data packets from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the one or more interface communication nodes comprise a memory configured to store data packets received from a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network; transmitting data packets from the second type of communication network to the first type of communication network; and transmitting the data packet from the first type of communication network to the second type of communication network, wherein the data packet is transmitted at one of a plurality of time intervals over the first type of communication network and at each interval for the second type of communication network to account for slower data transmissions over the second type of communication network.

42. The system of any of claims 23-41, wherein the one or more tubular members are disposed within a wellbore.

43. The system of any one of claims 23 to 41, wherein the one or more tubular members are disposed within a subsea conduit.

44. The system of any of claims 23-41, wherein the one or more tubular members are disposed within a pipeline.